BUTTNERIACEÆ. 
191 
TRIBUS SECUNDA. 
HERMANNIÆ. 
MELOCHIA, Linn,^ Juss,, Ca^^an., A, St-Hil. 
Melochia et Riedlea, Venten. Altheria , du Petit-Th. 
Melochia et Mougeotia, Kunth. Melochia ^ Riedleia 
et Altheria, DC., Prodr, 
Cal}x nudus aut interdum bracteis 1-3 calyculatus, 
campanulatus , tubulosus , rarius cupulæformis , 5-fidus , 
5-gonus, lO-iiervius. Petala 5, hypogyna, cum divisuris 
calycinis alternantia, æqualia, erecta, oblongo-obovata , 
obtusissima , flabellato-venosa ; ungiiibus tubo stamineo 
adnatis. Stamina b, fertilia, petalis opposita, in tubum 
connata, cylindricum 5-nervium, integrum aut sæpius plus 
minus divisum ; filamenta complanata, nervis tubi conti- 
nua; antheræ dorso affixæ, continiiæ, mobiles, biloculares, 
extrorsæ, lineari-elliplicæ, ulrinque obtusæ et bilobæ , 
glaberrimæ*, longitrorsum déhiscentes. Ovarium regulare 
qiiinquelobum , quinqueloculare , sæpius pedicellatum ; 
ioculamentis 2-spermis. Ovula angulo interno affixa, ascen- 
dentia, imbricata. Styli 5, plus minus coaliti. Stigmata 
lotidem terminalia, stylis continua, teretia, obtusa. Cap- 
sula calyce persistente vestita, persistentibiisque stylis ter- 
minata, 5-locularis, 5-10-sperma, modo dehiscentia locii- 
lieida vcl septicida, o-valvis, modo septicida simulque 
loculicida apice 10-valvis, aut primo loculicida, quinque- 
valvis, demum([ue septicida 10-valvis. Semina ascendentia 
ovata. [ntegiimentum duplex; exterius crustaceum, interius 
membranaceum. Umbilicus paulo supra extremitatem 
seminis angusliorem si tus ; chalaza subterminalis. Endo- 
spermium carnosum. Embryo rectus in axi endospermii : 
cotyledones |)lanæ, subfoliaceæ, orbiculari-reniformes; radi- 
cula inféra, umbilicum suhattingens. 
Ilerba‘, sulTrutices aut arbuscula^; pubc omnino jiarlimvc 
